Roof construction for demountable buildings



Sept. `5, 1933. c. F. McAVoY E'r AL Rooil CONSTRUCTION Fo'n nnuouuuw BUILDINGS original Filed April 19. 1928 4 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 5, 1933. c. F'. M'cAVoY E1' AL I ROOF COSTRUCTION' FOR DEMOUNTABLE BUILDINGS original Filed yApril' 19, 192e 4 sheets-sheet z JIS Sept'. 5, 1933.

C. F, MOAVOY El' AL ROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR DEMOUNTABLE BUILDINGS Original Filed April 19, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 5, 1933. c. F. MeAvoY` El'. AL 1,925,769

ROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR DEMOUNTABLE BUILDINGS Original Filed April 19, 1928 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwumtou Clavrles F MS/lyoy cm1/'el E. [Vc/40(5) Patented 5,- 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oi-EicE ROOF CQNBTBUCTION FOB 'DEMOUNTABLE BUILDINGS F. McAvoy, Forest Hills, and Daniel E. McAvoy, Long Inland City, N. Y.

original puntini Api-u 19, 192s, serial No. 271,340. Divided and this application January r1, 1930. sexismo. 421,543

3 Clahnl. (Cl. 10B-1) This application is a division of our co-pending applicationSerial No. 271,340 ledApril 19, 1928, now Patent No. 1,825,195, dated September 29, 1931, said division being made in compliance with omcial requirement. This invention pertains to unit system buildings of the type set forth in U. S. Letters Patent N0.1,375,402 and N0. 1,397,976, dated reaped-- tion withoutA otherwise modifying the generalI construction set forth in the aforesaid patents.

The drawings of this divisional application and the description' thereof, are made identical with those of the parent application to the end that the relation of the roof structure to, and the manner of connecting the same with the main or body portion of the building, may be clearly understood. In said drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view on a small scale of one of the wall and roof umts, with a portion of the facing board or sheet broken away to show the interior construction.

Fig. 2, .a vertical sectional view of one wall and a portion of the roof, taken on a plane transverse to said wall androof, and showing more particularly the construction and the manner of anchoring or securing the roof in piace;

Fig. 6, a view showing a means for and mode of anchoring the corner cover-plates;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating the construction of the combinedtierod sections and dowels used in binding together both the wall and the roof. units; A

Fig. 8, a perspective view of a special type of bolt, designed for use at points where the continuity of the wall is interrupted, as at door openings and the like;

Fig. 9, a perspective view showing the under side of a section of a roof unit and the metal strip or plate carried thereby to rest upon the upper edge or face of a wall, and to form part of the anchoring of the roof;

Fig. 10, a perspective view showing the dowels applied to the corner angle irons, and the mortise provided in a unit section lto receive one of said dowels;

Fig. i1. a sectional view illustrating the manner of applying a metal binding to the sides and ends of the unit sections;

Fig. l2, a perspective view of the metallic member employed to tie together the two sloping roof sections and the ridge pole of a simple gable roof, or of a clearstory or monitor' roof when such is used;

Fig. 13, an end view showing the construction of a vclearstory or monitor roof, to be applied to or to form part ofthe main roof where it is deslred to erect a structure of. greater width and door space than would otherwise be practicable with units of given dimensions;

Fig. 14. a perspective view of one of the side units of the monitor roof; i

Fig. l5, an enlarged sectional view of an internally and externally threaded nut or socket member employed to facilitate tying together the roof members and securing the roof to the wall members, rand the wall members to sills or to short posts carried thereby.

The present construction follows generally the plan of that set forth in the earlier patents noted, l

the walls and roof being formed of identical units or sections, tied together by sectional tie-rods, each a little longer than the width of a unit wall or roof section.

Each unit comprisesa rectangular frame of wood; facing sheets or boards; and a binding strip or band of sheet metal, cut, folded into trough-like form in cross section to cover the edge face of the unit frame on its sides and ends, and having its free edges crimped or pressed slightly into the facing boards or` sheets to bind together and protect the frame and its covering, and give to said frame great strength, enabling it to support a remarkably heavy load and to withstand a quite heavy facewise pressure. also to carry the free edges of the metal into. and to bring each flange of the metal strip ush with, the surface of the covering or facing board or sheet of the unit, thus guarding against engage-v ment of such edge with other bodies and the stripping of the metal from the facing sheet.

These results are attained with the use of relatively light wooden pieces, which are in practice The crimping serves made of material that is commonly treated as waste at the mills, and hence costs' but little, particularly when purchased in considerable quantities.

Each unit frame 1 is preferably composed of two main longitudinal members 2 and three main cross pieces 3; a series of lighter cross pieces 2n parallel with the main cross members; and short spacing pieces 3a arranged between the several transverse members, as shown in Fig. 1. These parts are standardized and carefully cut to exact dimensions, and are assembled by dropping them into forms, so that accurate alinement of the various pieces is assured and the parts are assembled rapidly and without the need of skill or great care. When thus positioned the parts are lightly fastened together by nails or brads, and by so-called wiggle nails which are formed of thin corrugated steel cut or beveled at one end or margin to produce a sharp cutting edge which can readily be driven into wood, with, or across the grain. Upon the frame thus made up there is laida sheet orboard 4 of any good insulating material,A such as celotex, homosote, beaver board, -or other pulp or fiber board, celotex' and homosote being'generally preferred because of their high insulating value, their lightness, and the readiness with whichvthey receive and the tenacity with which they hold, plaster, stucco, cement, and other protecting and ornamenting preparations.

Preparatory to placing such sheet or board upon the frame, a coating of marine glue or other strong and waterproof cement is applied to that face of the sheet or board which later is placed in contact with the frame, and this coated face is pressed lightly to ensure close contact of the cement-coated board with the face of the frame, to which it readily adheres. The frame is then turned over and a like insulating sheet or board, similarly coated on one face with a good waterproof cement, is applied to the second face of said frame. Successive frames thus prepared are placed one upon another on a suitable bed, and

' the entire pile or stack is subjected to pressure suihcientto ensure perfect contact of the cementcoated sheets or boards with the frames, and thepressure is maintained until the cement sets or hardens. -The insulating board or sheet possesses considerable strength, and adhering to the numerous longitudinal and transverse members of the frame, ties its parts securely together and gives stiffness and strength to said frame, which in turn supports the insulating sheets or boards, and enables them to withstand quite rough handling and heavy windzpressure, or in the case of roof units, to carry heavy loads of snow, sleet or hail.

Though it is preferred generally to employ pulp or fiber boards for both faces of the panels or units, sheet metal may be used on one or both faces 4where the building is intended to withstand exceptionally hard usage, or is liable to be subjected to blows or impact. Such sheet metal may replace or may overlie the fiber board facing. The

. two facings of strong but light and cellular material having a high heat insulating capacity, together with the air confined within the hollow unit structure, give excellent protection against vtransmission of heat, and a building constructed of such units is easily kept warm in winter and cool in summer. Covered with plaster, stucco,

, or similar non-combustible materials or preparations, said units, and the structures built thereof, are practically fire proof, are waterproof, and are unaffected by changes in weather conditions.

be explained. As the transverse members 3 have flanges of th into plane withgthe facing boards or sheets, and form a strong and permanent fastening of the facing boards and of the binding strips, rendering nails, tacks, and the like, unnecessary. It will be noted that two trough-like or channel bars laid back to back and drawn and -held firmly in conftact, produce a light but-strong and rigid vertical element, stiiened and prevented from buckling by the several bends and crimping of the metal.

As under the prior construction, the alined units or panels are connected, drawn and firmly held together, and kept in alinement by, sectional tierods 6, one section of each rod extending through a hole bored longitudinally through the transverse members 3 of each unit, there being a tie-rod for each series of alined transverse members. The improved construction of these rods will presently their grain running in the direction of -the sectional rods and these members are practically in end contact, there is no material or appreciable longitudinal expansion or contraction of a wall, roof or floor composed of such panels, and hence there is no need for springs or other yielding devices to compensate for expansion or contraction. All such contrivances are hence omitted in the present construction, and the metal-covered edges of proximate panels are brought into immediate contact and so rmly pressed together that the 1151 felt `or other packing previously employed is found Y wholly unnecessary and undesirable, and is like- -wise omitted. As a consequence, there is a material saving in cost, the springs and packing strips being items of considerable expense. Y Moreover, special provision had to be made for seating the springs, and their proper placing required time and care. Being small, the springs were often lost, thus further increasing expense.

Under the prior construction, too, tubular dowels were'in some cases provided to ensure and maintain alinement of lthe panels or unit sections,1 but these are now dispensed with and the sectional tie-rods are so fashioned that their heads serve as dowels and also as nuts, each to receive the threadi3@ ed end vof a succeeding rod section.

The construction of the individual tie-rods 6 will now be explained in connection with Figs. 4i, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Each rod comprises a plurality of sections of the form illustrated in Figs. d and '7, it being of course understood that each section is continuous from its socket end, or internally threaded dowel end, 6, to its externally screwthreaded end 6b. The dowel end of each section is made of polygonal and preferably square form in cross section, to ilt a corresponding seat or socket 7 with which one end of each transverse member 3 of each panel or unit is provided. This formation of the dowel causes it, when seated in the socket '7, to' be held against rotation, so that M* the threaded end 6b of the next rod section 6 can be readily screwed into the dowel 6nk without difficulty. To facilitate the ready entrance and centering of the threaded end in the dowel end, each 15( threaded end 6b is provided with a conical extremcuring axial alinement of the tie-rod sections. Each dowel end 6*1L projects from the edge of the panel or unit through which the rod passes, into the socket 'l of the alined transverse member 3 of the succeeding panel or unit, as shown in Fig. 4,'

and the sections of the three tie-frods passing through successive panels can be introduced and tightened with great rapidity. The protruding dowel portion 6 of each rod serves to receive a wrench or other implement by which to screw the rod sections home, and as the base of each dowel bears against -the flat face of the metal binding strip 5, it may be turned until spring pressure is exerted against the edge face of the unit or panel being secured in place, without danger of embedding itself in the wood of the transverse member 3 or mutilating the same.

This rod construction is used throughout the side and end walls and roof, special provision being made, however, for anchoring and tightening the rods at the corners of the building, and at door openings or other interruptions in the walls or roof.

At the corners of the building or structure there is employed as a, corner post or support an angle iron or steel member 8, shown in Fig. 4 and on a somewhat larger scale in Fig. 5. Each corner post 8 is placlexd with one face abutting directly against an end wall and the other against a side wall, in 90 relation, and each mortise or socket 'l of the proximate or abutting panels or sections 1 is furnished with a nut 9 of the same formas the dowel end 6 of the tie-` rods. At'other points this dowel is made integral with the rodseetions 6, but isl here made sepa--` rate from the rod and has the internal screwthreaded socket carried from end to end to receive at its'inner end the threaded end ofthe proximate rod section 6, and at its outer end an attaching bolt 10 passing through a perforation in the web or wing of angle post 8 in alinement with the proximate tie-rod section 6. This construction is shown in Fig. 4 applied both to a at a right angle, as best seen in Fig. 5. 'I'his construction affords bearings throughout the length of the coverplate, both on the face and on the edge of the angle iron post from end to end, covering the joints or meeting lines of the wall sections and corner posts, and giving a neat ilnish to the corner and considerable strength to or holding the cover-platell in place may be` adopted. However, as expedition in the erection post, as best shown in Fig. 5, to be engaged by a hook 13' formed on an angle plate 14 welded, riveted, bolted or otherwise secured to the inner i'ace of the cover-plate ll. The hook 13 and strap or bar 12 are so positioned that said hook may be readily passed over the bar and moved downward relatively thereto until its slightly inclined inner face bears firmly against theopposed face of said bar, and thereby draws 'the folded edges of the cover-plate 11. forcibly'l against the outer edges and faces of the angle iron posts 8, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. One, two, or more bars l2 and hooks-.13 may be employed for each post as desired. It is deemed advisable, ordinarily, to employ at least two such fastenings, one near the vupper and the other near the lower end of the post and corner,`to ensure and maintain close contact of the cover and post throughout their length. A metal wall plate 15 (see Fig. 9), first attached to the under side of the roof members, extends from the corner posts 8, and prevents lifting of the covers 11 of said posts.

At door, window, and otheropenings, if such be provided, it is of course undesirable to have the dowels 6m protrude beyond the face of the door or window frames, or beyond the edges of the panels abutting against such frames. At such points, therefore, we employ in connection with either the dowel 6a of Figs. 4 and 7, or the nut 9 of Fig. 10, a bolt 16 having a polygonal head 16n slotted or provided with a nic to receive a screw driver. Such a bolt is shown in Fig. 8 and partially broken away in Fig. 10, arranged to screw into a nut or dowel 9 secured to one of the corner posts 8 by a bolt 10, as above de-A to cause a head 16a to takea rm bearing against 115 the outer edge ofthe metal-bound panel or unit, and thus to draw and hold the panel rmly against the post.` If two or more units are interposed between the post and the door or window frame, bolts having the dowel integral therewith will be employed for all such units except the one against which the frame is placed. At that' point a bolt 16 of vthe form shown in Figs. 8 and l0 will be employed. The bolt may pass' through the door or window frame, and such frame secured in place by the bolts of the three tie-rods extending thereto, each bolt being in such case of the form shown in said Figs. 8 and l0.

Countersinks may be provided for the heads 16al -of the bolts 16, if desired, and as hinged steel window frames and sash frames are usually employed in connection with buildings of the type here illustrated and described, and the bolt heads will not interfere with their proper opening and closing, the slight projection of the head 16a is unimportant.

',As above stated, the roof is composed of unit members placed edge to edge and drawn, pressed or firmly held' together by sectional tie-rods in the same manner precisely as are the walls.

Gable sections each of the form and dimensions corresponding to one of the unit sections, cut

through from one to the diagonally opposite Lcorner, will be employed as in the structure set forth in Patent No. 1,375,402 before referred to. These gable sections being properly placed upon and supported by the end walls, in turn afford supports for the ends of two roof sections- 17 and v18, each composed of a series of units which may be assembled before raising to position, or assembled in position, as found expedient in any given case and depending primarily on the length of the roof.- i

In order to permit proper tying together of the roof members, one to the other, and both to the walls of the building, each unit or panel 1 is provided at opposite ends with one or more nuts end of the plugs.

or socket plugs 19 of the form shown in Fig. `2 and on a larger scale in Fig. 15. These plugs are of circular form in cross section, flanged at the open end after the manner of a wood screw head, externally threaded to enter a hole or socket bored ing-the transverse members'3 at opposite ends of the units or panels, and externally threaded to receive-the ends of bolts 20, said bolts passing through oppositely extending arms of a tie-piece 21 best shown in Fig. 12 but appearing also in Figs. 2 and 13. The socket plugs 19 can be rapidly andsecurely applied to the panels or units by boring therein to a suitable depth, holes of a diameter equal to the external diameter of the plugs minus the screw threads, and slightly counter-boring' the outer ends of said holes to accommodate the flange or enlarged If more than one socket is to be placed in a given cross member 3, a gang boring implement may be employed and the several holes simultaneously bored. Similarly, the several socket plugs or nuts may be screwed home by gang tools, thus saving materially in the time required for their placement and dispensing with the plates previously used, and each secured in place by screws. v

The connecting tie-piece 21 has lat its midlength as best seen in Fig. 12, a triangular pro- .jection with its top and longest face in a horizontal plane. It is provided with a vertical hole to permit a fastening bolt 22 to pass through it and enter a socket plug or nut 19 seated in the lower side of a substantially T-shaped ridgepole 23, Athe lateralV arms of which overlap the proximate ends of the roof sections 17, 18, and the'stem or central rib of which is beveled or tapered to fit snugly between the opposed ends of said roof sections. This ridge pole is preferably covered with galvanized iron, as indicated in Fig. 2. It is deemed advisable to have at least matie-piece for each two roof panels or units, and preferably two, as considerable stress is brought upon them, when the roof is heavily laden with snow or sleet.

To secure the outer and lower portions of the slanting roof sections to the vertical walls, fastening members 24 of inverted L-shape as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are employed, and these are arranged to overhang and hold down the wall plate 15 above referred to. As shown inl Figs. 2 and 9, the plate 15 has three flat faces or portions 153, 15b and 15C, the intermediate portion 15b being of a width to rest upon and extend from the inner to the outer face of the Vertical wall of the building, the outer portion 15a being at a slight angle to the portion 15b so that it shall lie fiat 'against the under face of the roofsection while said intermediate 'sectiort` lbjlies at upon the-upper face of the wall. The section 15'3 is bent downward at a right angle to the intermediate portion 15b" so as to overhang the top face or edge of the vertical wall and bear agains the inner side face thereof, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The fastening members orA irons 24 are secured to the side walls by bolts 25 entering nuts'or socket plugs 19 seated in the upper transverse member 3 of the respective Wall panels or units.

In regions where the buildings will be-subject to severe winds or gales it is desirable that they y be suitably anchored. In any case it is desirable that' they be supported on substantial sills or foundations as 26, Fig. 2. These sills may be beams of wood, or may be of brick, stone or cement, though the walls can be carried upon piers of any suitable construction, the rigidity and' strength of the walls constructed as here described rendering continuous support unnecessary. Made fast to or anchored in any suitable way in each sill 26, is either a continuous upstanding member 26, or a series of such upstanding members-of relatively small measure' ment in the direction of the length of the sill. These upstanding members are provided opposite the socket plugs 19 of the panels or units 1, with openings for the passage of fastening bolts 20 by which any or all of thewwall sections y sions) have been adopted for general purposes with a view to utilizing to best advantage the space of box cars and other vehicles, which are 4standardized. These dimensions may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the claims made in the prior patent or in the present instance, but will preferably 'be adhered to where quantity production and cheapbe secured in a simple a f d efficient manner and with improved structur by providing in addition to what has been above described a clearstory or monitor .roof 27, as illustrated by Figs. 13 and 14, the roof sections 17 and 18 there shown being constructed as in Fig. 2 and similarly supported by upright walls. Such monitor roof or ness of output are impcztant'. This result may clearstory can be utilized to afford additional light'and ensure adequate ventilation, and also permits greater width of structure without changing the unit dimensions. The side and end walls of the clearstory may be built up of rectangular frames-or panels 28 of suitable length, preferably equal lto the width of the panels 1, and provided with longitudinal sills or bottom members and sockets or mortises to receive the sectional tierods and dowels above described. They will preferably be covered, at least on the louter face, with galvanized sheet metal having an outwardly turned flange 29 along its outer lower edge to nlap acrossand protect against the entrance of moisture, where the lower and beveled edge of the frame bears upon the proximate roof section, as in Fig. 13.

The roof of the clearstory 27 will advisably be constructedl in essentially the same manner as the main roof of the building, the roof units being tied together in the same Way as said main roof sections and of like dimensions, or shorter in their major dimension than the regular units, as found expedient. If shorter, it is advisable that they be one-half or one-third the length of the Wall and main roof units, in order that they may be stored snugly in like space, two or three of the shorter units occupying the same space as one of the longer panels.

Tie bars 30 secured by bolts 31 entering socket plugs 19 such as shown in Fig. 2 and above described, serve to tie together the proximate ends tie-pieces 32 riveted or otherwise made fast to the tie bars 30 serve to hold in place the lower ends of the upstanding side members of frames 28. The roof members 33 may be conveniently tied to the upstanding members of frame 28 by metal fittings 34 analogous to the fittings 24 of Fig. 2, and their proximate ends will be connected by a tie-piece 21rand covered by a ridge-pole 23, in all respects the same as those of the main roof sections 17 and 18 in Fig. 2.

As the main roof sections 17 and 18 by reason of their longitudinal tie-rods 6 are very strong and rigid, and are supported at their ends on the gable members of the structure and anchored thereto, the clearstory, constructed as described and firmly attached to said main roof members, will also be rigid and safeV against the weight of snow or sleet and the pressure of winds. l

From the foregoing description it will be manifest that the clearstory or monitor roof with its ridge pole and associated tie members or fastenings, or such ridge pole and tie members alone, may be interchangeably employed without in any way modifying the Wall and roof structures or the dimensions of the unit panels thereof. Such interchangeability greatly widens the field of usefulness of the invention. y

It will be seen on comparison of Figs. 2 and 13 that the roof sections 33 of the clearstory shown in Fig. 13 constitute in effect mere extensions of the main roof sections 17 and 18 shown in both figures, the sections 33 being raised above said sections 17 and 18 and the same ridge pole and tie members being employed in both cases. The structure including the clearstory is deemed the best and most complete embodiment of the invention since it affords additional light and adequate ventilation, both at the highest point in the building where unobstructed light is best obtainable, and where ventilation may be secured without producing undesirable cross drafts or currents in the main body of the building.

Where the buildings are designed to remain standing and in use as permanent or as seasonal homes, the metal tie members 21, 24, and the like, may be covered by any suitable molding, wood or I other, as seen in Fig. 2, where a molding strip 35 extending parallel with the side wall and running from end wall to end wall with its upper edge preferably in contact with the under face of the roof members, is shown.

Any type of floor may be employed, the choice depending largely upon the intended use of the structure; thus cement may be advantageously used where the building is to house automobiles or the like, or where wooden oors are subject to injury by certain classes of ants and other insects. As theinvention here set forth is in no way restricted to one or another floor construction, none is shown. It will, however, be found convenient to use sections of the same outsideV dimensions as the wall and roof units, faced on the lower side with any suitable board, metal, or other impervious sheet material, and on the upper side with matched tongue and groove flooring boards, the intermediate air space serving asa frame andr'the glass-holding frame, are preferably employed, the outer frame being made of size arbitrary or unvarying one, since any suitable type of window frame and window or sash may be employed. Doors and partitions may be employed wherever deemed desirable, andthese may be constructed and introduced as explained in Patent No. 1,375,402 noted herein, or in any other suitable form and manner.

It is found advantageous in some instances to use one type of board or covering for the outer or weather surface of the panels or units, and another for the inner surface or-the surface constituting the walls of the room, the more open or porous type of covering for the outer surfaces, and particularly where stucco or pebbledash is to be employed, and the harder-surfaced materials where designs are to be painted, printed or stenciled on the exposed faces of the walls of the room. p

Buildings designed to be erected by properly assembling standardized units and capable of being readily dismantled after erection, are commonly and interchangeably designated as sectional buildings, demountable buildings, andA where the unit system is employed, as unit construction buildings. These terms are to be understood as interchangeably used in the foregoing description and in the claims.

As stated, it is preferred to fold the longitudinal edges of the metal binding of the panels upon the facing sheet preparatory to making the righi angle bent which produces the trough shape in the binding. This construction gives greater stiffness to the binding, and adds to the strength the vertical member produced through the at suitable angles to lie against the under face of the roof sections, and an intermediate raised portion against which said roof sections abut; a ridge-pole fashioned to t between and abut against the proximate ends of the roof members and to overlap the same; and bolts passing through said arms and intermediate raised portion and entering socket plugs seated in said roof members and ridge-pole.

2. In a sectional building structure, the combination with an upright side wall, of a roof section provided on its under face with a metal wall plate secured at one edge to the under face of the roof section and fashioned to overlie the upper face of the upright vwall and to have a bearing on the inner face thereof; a fastening member of substantially inverted L-shape having its lateral arm arranged to overhang and bear upon the wall plate; and a fastening bolt passing through the other arm of the fastening member and entering an internally threaded socket plug seated in the inner face of the panel, whereby the roof section is accurately positioned and securely held upon the Wall section.

3. A roof for demountable buildings, comprising two main sections each formed of a series of unit sections similar to the main roof sections, connected at their upper and proximate edges and made fast to the upright sections by tie-pieces; and a ridge-pole overlapping the proximate edges of the clearstory roof and made fast to the tiepieces connecting the ciearstory roof sections.

CHARLES F. MCAVOY. DANIEL E. MCAVOY. 

